Chapel Hill's downtown has long benefited from its proximity to a captive audience of University students without cars. While downtowns around the country have been failing, ours has survived fairly well. However, we have seen an increase in the number of chain stores locating downtown, and instability in the Downtown Economic Development Corporation. In the near future, we will see new Town-directed development on two major parking lots have a big impact.
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Carrboro's downtown has also done better than many towns of comparable size, thanks largely to the presence of Weaver Street Market and progressive shoppers from the rest of the county. The Board of Aldermen has been addressing the evolution of the downtown, and have established a number of community resources in the downtown area including free wireless Internet access, and a low-power radio station.
Having a "big picture" economic development strategy will help the Town
and other partners in economic and community development shape policy
and prioritize investments in a proactive manner. The strategy will
serve as a guide for understanding choices and making decisions.
The Council Committee on Economic Development, which includes Mayor pro
tem Jim Ward and Council members Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom and Ed
Harrison, has drafted an economic development draft strategy with Town
Manager Roger L. Stancil and Dwight Bassett, economic development
officer. After community input this March, the draft plan will be
reviewed by the Town Council for consideration.
Discussions about developing an economic development strategy for the
town tie back to the Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted
in 2000. The Council renewed its commitment to developing a strategy
when it created the position of economic development officer in June
2006. The position is expected to communicate Town policy and Council
expectations to businesses as it assists businesses with understanding
processes of Town government.
The draft of Chapel Hill's economic development strategy is available at www.townofchapelhill.org/economic_development.
Its summary statement proposes: " The Town of Chapel Hill will work
innovatively and proactively to diversify local economic opportunities
by retaining and supporting existing jobs, and attracting new,
desirable jobs in locations convenient to transit and housing. Our goal
is to build a more sustainable economy for the 21st century by creating
a healthy balance among employment, housing and commercial development.
In all of our development efforts, the Town of Chapel Hill places
importance on the built & natural environment, community character,
transit orientation, social equity and quality of life for its
citizens."
Date:
Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 10:00am
Location:
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 104 S. Estes Drive
Having a "big picture" economic development strategy will help the Town
and other partners in economic and community development shape policy
and prioritize investments in a proactive manner. The strategy will
serve as a guide for understanding choices and making decisions.
The Council Committee on Economic Development, which includes Mayor pro
tem Jim Ward and Council members Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom and Ed
Harrison, has drafted an economic development draft strategy with Town
Manager Roger L. Stancil and Dwight Bassett, economic development
officer. After community input this March, the draft plan will be
reviewed by the Town Council for consideration.
Discussions about developing an economic development strategy for the
town tie back to the Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted
in 2000. The Council renewed its commitment to developing a strategy
when it created the position of economic development officer in June
2006. The position is expected to communicate Town policy and Council
expectations to businesses as it assists businesses with understanding
processes of Town government.
The draft of Chapel Hill's economic development strategy is available at www.townofchapelhill.org/economic_development.
Its summary statement proposes: " The Town of Chapel Hill will work
innovatively and proactively to diversify local economic opportunities
by retaining and supporting existing jobs, and attracting new,
desirable jobs in locations convenient to transit and housing. Our goal
is to build a more sustainable economy for the 21st century by creating
a healthy balance among employment, housing and commercial development.
In all of our development efforts, the Town of Chapel Hill places
importance on the built & natural environment, community character,
transit orientation, social equity and quality of life for its
citizens."
The CH Herald reports that Somerhill Gallery's lease has been terminated: Owner Joe Rowand received a notice that his lease was being terminated
by center owner Federal Realty two weeks ago. "There was no rationale
given," Rowand said Tuesday of the notice, which gave him 45 days to
vacate the location. "It was a three-paragraph notice of termination.
If you dig deeper, there are other merchants here that have been told
they are not being renewed."
Is the implication that Federal Realty, having upgraded the mall area, now wants to churn the tenant population to charge higher rent? Anyone know any thing about this? Aside from my own admiration of Somerhill and my feeling that it's an asset to both mall and town, I have to wonder about efforts to change the nature of Eastgate in a volatile and perhaps failing economy. Has Federal Realty not noticed the unoccupied spaces on Franklin St. and University Mall?
A few weeks ago, I was asked to take a look at my daily commute and examine it in terms of the physical factors that affect my journey. Below is a video that represents the route I travel (almost) every day and the hurdles I encounter. Because I walk a pretty short distance most days, it's a very microscopic view of pedestrian travel issues in downtown Chapel Hill. I want to turn the question around to the Orange Politics community, and see what you think of your commute. What problems do you have to deal with every day on your way to work/school/where ever, and what do you see as the solution?
I hear the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership is conducting a survey about parking. They are asking what kind of businesses we visit downtown and how often, where we park (if we drive), how much we want to pay for it (none, duh), and what our opinions are about towing.
They're not clear about whether the survey covers downtown Carrboro as well. They usually say that it is within their sphere of interest, but it will certainly change the results if Carrboro is included, don't you think? Anyway, make up your own mind and go take the survey now.
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